Scaremongers risk damaging NZ’s brand, claims Straterra
Posted in: Perspectives: Thursday, 18 February 2010
Inside Tourism, February 18, 2010
Scaremongers risk damaging NZ's brand, claims Straterra
By Richard Michael, CEO, Straterra
ENVIRONMENTAL activists risk damaging New Zealand’s clean green brand internationally by “scaremongering” about proposed changes to the Crown Minerals Act, says Straterra CEO Richard Michael. Straterra is the body representing New Zealand’s natural resources industry.
Mr Michael says emotive statements about proposed changes to Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act does no favours for the tourism industry.
“Comments, particularly by The Green Party and Forest and Bird, have predicted scarred landscapes, pollution, and damage to wildlife habitat and to our tourism industry.
He tells IT: “The reality is that there are already a considerable number of mineral projects operating within the conservation estate, with excellent environmental management programmes and without harming tourism. Any new mining projects in New Zealand will meet or exceed the high standards that are currently required by agencies and the companies themselves.
“The natural resources industry looks forward to the release of the discussion document on the issue and the opportunity for a national debate for all New Zealanders.”
Mr Michael says it has been interesting to observe informal online surveys by Stuff and Yahoo, which attracted tens of thousands of votes with about 55 percent in favour of increased access.
“Schedule 4 needs to be reassessed because land had been added in a somewhat ad hoc manner, and with no consideration of the potential economic values. How can we argue against a better understanding of the range of issues?”
He also welcomes the measured response from tourism organisations and some environmental groups.
This includes TIA CEO Tim Cossar, who said the organisation is reassured by the PM’s comments that any new mines would have to meet strict environmental tests, but would also want assurance that they would not detract from the visitor experience.
Mr Michael adds that Environmental Defence Society chairman Gary Taylor has also said his organization does not oppose mining on all Crown-owned conservation land but that it is a question of limiting mining to lower-value areas for nature conservation and continuing to protect higher-value areas.
“Tourism is, unquestionably, a vital aspect of the New Zealand economy but the world-class mining techniques used today meant New Zealanders can enjoy the benefits of a flourishing visitor industry and high level of protection for our wilderness areas as well as further advantages from our mineral wealth.
“Mining creates a lot of value from small amounts of land - currently a total of 40sq km in New Zealand,” he adds.
“Mining, conservation and, indeed, tourism, are not mutually exclusive as some might argue. Canada, which is marketed with a ‘clean and sustainable’ image, has very successful tourism and a flourishing minerals industry which contributes $40,000 million annually to Canada’s GDP.
“In New Zealand it’s estimated that carefully controlled increased access to Crown land could boost production and exports and lift household incomes by at least 1.7 percent.”
Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee has used the Newmont Waihi Gold mine to illustrate how mining, with high standards of environmental management, can successfully co-exist with tourism.
Waste water from Waihi has been found to be cleaner on discharge than on delivery - so much so that it can be discharged into the Ohinemuri River, famed for its trout fishing.
Kelvyn Eglinton, External Affairs Manager for Newmont Waihi Gold says visitors are attracted to Waihi by the “stunning natural environment” - such as the Karangahake Gorge walk - and interest in the mine and its history..
Some 38,000 visitors visited the Gold Story mine interpretation centre at the town’s information centre last year and a recent survey found 87 percent of tourists who visited Waihi came because of the mine.
“While there are very strong feelings at each end of the debate about mining, in the middle there are an awful lot of ordinary Kiwis who want to come and have a look at the mine and decide for themselves,” Mr Eglinton tells us.